Thursday, May 24, 2012

(LOS ANGELES, CA, 5/14/12) -- The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), along with Jewish Voice for Peace and Progressive Christians Uniting, today called on state and national Republican Party leaders to repudiate hate speech by a candidate for the U.S. Senate who recently told a cheering audience, "I am an Islamophobe, and everything we need to know about Islam, we learned on 9-11."

During his May 3 speech in San Mateo, Calif., candidate Rabbi Nachum Shifren also resorted to racist language when he said, "We're getting sucker-punched because we as white -- yes I said it! -- as white, Christian Americans are being taught that somehow we are to blame for all the problems."

In a joint statement, the Muslim, Christian and Jewish organizations said:

"There should be no place for hate speech of any kind in our nation's political discourse. Whenever one faith or ethnicity is targeted by hate, it is our duty as Americans to challenge that hatred and to instead promote mutual understanding and tolerance. We urge GOP leaders in California and nationwide to repudiate this candidate's hate speech and to encourage greater respect for diversity within party ranks."

A number of recent reports have documented the growth and promotion of Islamophobia nationwide.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.